Curlycues Muse: One very special lady... my mentor, my friend.

Trish Taylor, Austin Texas

REMEMBER: You can click on the above logo to get to the most recent posting.... Hope you have fun looking at my creations and other things I love in life.... calligraphy is my passion, but so is my family... consisting of "the love of my life", my hubby, and my three miniature long haired dachshunds. You'll see lots of them here. Loved this quote: There’s something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else’s site. It’s like visiting a friend’s house for a quick meal ’round the breakfast table. It’s personal—you’re in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. In many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. Be welcoming & gracious when you host, and kind & respectful when visiting.” – Trent Walton

Sunday, July 11, 2010

One very special lady... my mentor, my friend.

"Kate" rendering by Chief White House Calligrapher, Pat Blair
The first time I met Kate was at a Capital City Scribes meeting, here in Austin, close to 20 years ago already. I could tell that she was so beloved and held in high esteem by her loved ones and colleagues. After getting to know her and seeing her generosity as well as her skills at calligraphy and art, I fell in love with this fine lady. We discussed a "mentor" program in the guild and I immediately KNEW that I wanted Kate to be mine. Since then, I've felt so confident that she will always be there for me and my creative endeavors. She claims that I have mentored her, too, but all I have to offer to her is what I know... which seems so miniscule for what she has given to me over the years.

Kate and her daughter, Jone Hallmark CLICK on Jone's name for her blog

This past year, in the guild, we had a retrospective of Kate Bergquist's work which amazed everyone who attended, which included her son, Bill, his wife and her granddaughter, Leila. There was so much interest in the work that she has done for the past 50+ years. Beforehand, I was honored to spend a whole day with her in her studio photographing items that brought her back to her childhood, including the first painting that she ever created..... There was a multitude of items ranging from fine art, fashion illustration, whimsical and very formal, traditional lettering arts.

Kate teaching her roses at a guild meeting

Her lettering arts career has spanned from when she was very young and a mother of three till today. Personally, I love her whimsy and eclectic ideas that she still portrays in her cards and pieces for exhibits and exchanges. Although her health has been an issue recently and she is transitioning to a smaller living area in the coming years, Kate keeps that zest for life with creative arts.

My birthday lunch with Alison and Kate at Chuy's 2007

Kate will always be a student as well as a teacher/mentor. For as long as I have known her, she has had an insatiable yearning for learning, taking as many workshops as she can, going to the International Calligraphy conferences and most recently, she has been enrolled in a life drawing class locally. She's always willing to lend a hand, volunteer, give her two cents when asked and most of all light up a room with her presence. I love Kate to my core and will always be the biggest fan she'll ever have (I know I will have contenders by making that statement) and wanted to share my love of her with everyone. If you don't know Kate... you are not as BLESSED as you could be.